Bowling ball weight balancer



April 17, 1962 s. EsToPARE BOWLING BALL WEIGHT BALANCER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 28, 1960 Fig Eems kram: Qm/

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S/'xfo Estopa/'e INVENTOR.

v 9 BY w M2 April 17, 1962 s. EsToPARE 3,029,521

BOWLING BALL WEIGHT BALANCER Filed March 28, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/g 5. Fig 8.

50 o O O o -S/'xo Esfopare IN VE N TOR.

United States The present invention generally relates to a weightbalancing device and more particularly a device to balance the weight of a bowling ball and especially the predetermined and drilled grip of an individual bowler to his particular body characteristics whereby the weight of the ball will be directed at its target for more accurate movement of the ball towards a target.

Bowling balls have certain inherent balance characteristics when they are initially constructed. In present day practice, the hand of the bowler is measured so that the grip of the bowling ball may be custom fitted to the individual. In other words, the finger and thumb receiving sockets forming the grip of the bowling ball are spaced apart a predetermined distance as determined by measurements and the angular orientation of such sockets is also deter-mined by measurements so that the person using the bowling ball may elfectively grip the same for rolling the ball down the bowling alley in the usual manner. However, present day practices only t the persons hand and do not allow for balancing of the ball either to the individuals body or to the target. When the bowler tries to hit the target with the ball, his body, due to its physical formation will normally direct the mass of the ball to the left of the target rather than directly at the target assuming that the person is a right handed bowler. Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to solve the problem of direction of the mass of the ball so that it will be directed to the target by providing a device to facilitate the measurement of each persons characteristics to enable nal drilling of the sockets of the grip as to the exact angle for perfect balance in relation to all body characteristics rather than just to the hand characteristics thereby balancing the grip and ball to the individual and whereby the ball will be directed truly to the target.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a device to balance, in a simulated manner, a true calculation for the predetermined grip so that an exact balance is made possible in relation to the individuals own hand and body characteristics thus facilitating the actual drilling of the grip so that the correct angle is made possible.

It is a further important object of the present invention to balance a bowling ball so that the mass thereof is coordinated in relation to the body characteristics of the bowler so that its mass will be exactly directed towards the intended target.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a bowling ball balancer which is simple in construction, easy to use, accurate in operation, elfective for its particular purposes and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accom- FIGURE 3 is a plan View of the bowlingrball balancer` of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 illustrating the details of construction of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed sectional View similar to FIG- URE 4 but illustrating a modiied form of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURES 4 and 5 but illustrating another form of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a detailed sectional view illustrating a lock device which may be employed for locking the adjustable grip in position;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of an alignment chart for indicating to a bowler his starting position and the actual target;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic View illustrating the drilling procedure for use in drilling the bowling ball; and

FIGURE l0 is a detailed view illustrating the construction of the locking device. y

Referring to FIGURE l of the drawings, the vertical line indicates the vertical center of the body of a right handed bowler and is designated by the numeral 10 with there being a center swivel point 12 at the upper end thereof. Extending outwardly from the center point 12 is an arm 14 with a swing point 16 at the outer end thereof and a depending arm 18 whichV represents the bowlers arm from which the weight of the bowling ball point is suspended. When a right handed bowler launches a bowling ball Ztl, the swing of the arm 18 is not in a true vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bowling alley but rather, the swing is in an arcuate plane about both the swing point 16 and the center point 12. As a result, the bowlers body is directed in one direction, that is, to the right as indicated by the arrow on the vertical line 10 while the mass of the ball is directed towards the left as indicated by the arrow on the vertical arm 18. This causes the balls mass to be directed far to the left and not towards the target. If the vertical arm 18 could coincide with the center point 12, lthen the movement of the arm 18 would be in a true vertical plane whereby theballs mass would beV directed directly towards the target rather than to one side thereof. inasmuch as the physical characteristics of a persons body prevent the location of the swing point of the arm 1S coincidental with the center line of the body, then it is necessary to compensate for the physical characteristics of the body so that the mass of the bowlers ball will be directed towards the target rather than towards the left or towards the right in the event of a left handed bowler.

FIGURE 2 represents schematically the spherical weight indicator designated by the numeral 22. For true balance, the swivel point should be at 2 where the line A intersects the top of the ball. However, the swivel point of the indicator 22 of the present invention is at 1 or at the center of the ball but compensation for this is incorporated into the construction of the balancing device of the present invention as will be understood.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate the structural arrangement of the bowling ball weight balancer of the present invention and is generally designated by the numeral 24. This includes a clear plastic spherical portion or body 26 having a hollow lower area or portion 2S and an insertible hand grip component 3i). Swivelly mounted in the body 26 is a depending indicator 32 having an arrow 34 on the lower end thereof and having a spherical upper end 36 journaled in a socket 3S in the body 26. The inserted unit 30 will have thumb and linger sockets 4G therein and the bottom center point of the device is indicated as is the top center point by any suitable indicia.

Concerning the insertible unit 30, it is pointed out that this may be of plastic construction which may be disposable and is drilled with the nger sockets 40 being measured in the usual present practice of measuring the span, pitch and the like and after it has been drilled, the insert contains the exact grip the person desires. Thus, the insert 3l) is variable and is measured and formed to the desires of the particular individual bowler. This insert is then inserted into the plastic ball unit and is fastened to the plastic ball unit in any suitable manner such as is illustrated in FIGURE 7. Thus, the plastic ball unit of the present invention will then have an insert with the insert having the exact desired grip of the individual bowler.

The main body 26 of the unit is preferably constructed of clear plastic and the indicator 32 is supported at the exact center of the ball and the inner surface of the hollow lower portion is provided with a grid indicator designated by the numeral 42 and illustrated in FIGURE 6 with it being pointed out that this grid structure is also associated with the arrow 32 for measuring the degrees the weight indicator is oi of or away from the bottom central point ofthe ball.

The weight indicator 32 has considerable weight and it indicates in what direction is the mass in relation to the target. The pointer or indicator will show true downward direction for exact balance which combined with the direction guides give a true direction to the target. The indicator normally swivels free from socket 38 formed by a pair of caps 43 in the center of the ball and will indicate how many `degrees ot bottom center that results in a true balanced and directed ball to the target. The caps 43 are mounted on the ends of a lock rod 44 spring urged towards the center by spring 45 for frictionally retaining the indicator at the point to which it swings. A cam member 46 is pivotally attached to the outer end of each rod 44 for loosening the caps 43 by moving them outwardly for permitting free swinging movement of the indicator.

FIGURE illustrates a similar arrangement to FIG- URE 4 but with a different type of indicator in which the body 48 is the same as the body 26 and the insert 50 is the same as the insert 30. However, the lower hollow portion of the body designated by the numeral 52 is lled and sealed with a liquid 54 which received a weighted small ball 56 for indicating the degrees od bottom center that results in a true balanced and directed ball to the target.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 and also FIGURE 4 but with the body 58 having an insert 60 which may move in all directions with the hollow lower area having a weighted ball 62 therein. A lock device 64 in the form of a ball is provided for the insert 60 togetherwith a screw threaded plug 66 having an adapter 68 engaging the ball 6-0 for locking the insert 6%) in a swivel position. Of course, many possible variations of the indicator may be provided and the insert may be retained in position in various manners. Primarily, the structure is intended to give the true downward direction combined with the direction guides to give an exact balance and a true direction to the target.

FIGURE 8 illustrates direction guides 70 and an alignment wall chart 72. The direction guides include spots 74 indicating the position of the bowlers feet and the wall chart includes spots '76 indicating the real target of the bowler. The purpose of the direction guides 70 is to give a true direction so that the individual can properly face the target. This provides an indication where the bowler stands and his real target. The oor chart facilitates proper positioning of the feet and the wall chart gives true direction to the target. While the actual distances preferable are given in relation to the target, these distances may be adjusted to give a true proportion to foot and wall charts in a more restricted space since a facility normally using the weight balancer would not have such distances available.

FIGURE 9 illustrates schematically the manner in which a drill 7% is employed for drilling a bowling ball 80 by using a converter unit which drills in accordance with the measurements provided by the balancer. The top unit of a converter unit remains stationary and holds the ball Si) so that it will allow the bottom of the ball to move or roll but retains the top center point 82 in position. The bottom unit of the converter is geared to move according to the degrees off bottom center indicated by the weight indicator with the bottom center being designated by the numeral 84 and the degrees of ott center being indicated at point 36 whereby point 86 may be brought into the position of the bottom center point 84 whereby the pitch of the holes drilled by the drill 78 will be in proportion to the degrees ol bottom center as in dicated by the weight indicator of the present invention.

Thus, a measuring device has been provided that will indicate the true direction of a bowling ball so that the weight thereof is balanced to the target.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A bowling ball weight balancer comprising a ball having a hollow lower portion, an indicator in the form of a movable weighted member in the lower portion for movement in relation to the bottom center point of the ball thereby indicating the relation between a true vertical line extending through the center of the ball and the `bottom center point of the ball, and an insert in 4the upper portion of the ball, said insert having a bowling ball grip mounted therein whereby the bowling ball grip may be employed to support the ball in the manner of a bowler whereby the weighted member will indicate the degrees ol bottom center of a true vertical line passing through the center of the ball when the ball is supported in the normal position of a bowler employing the particular grip incorporated into the insert.

2. The structure as dened in claim 1 wherein said indicator is in the form of a swivelly supported arrow with the point of swivel thereof coinciding with the center of the ball.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said indicator includes a rollable ball disposed on the inner surface of the hollow lower portion of the ball.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the lower hollow portion of the ball is filled with a liquid for -retarding the rolling movement of the ball.

5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the hollow lower interior of the ball is provided with a grid work for indicating the degrees off bottom center.

6. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with means for locking ythe indicator in position :for retaining the position thereof for easier reading.

7. A balancing device for a bowling ball grip insert comprising `a :body having a hollow lower interior portion, =a weighted indicator supported movably within the hollow interior for movement in relation to a bottom cen-ter point `for indicating the `degrees ol center of va vertical line passing through the center of the body, the upper pontion of said body including means lreceiving a grip for attaching the grip to the body whereby the Weight indicator will indicate the degrees off center of a true vertical line when the body is supported by the grip in the normal manner of supponting a bowling ball thus indicating the balance characteristics of a particular grip when that grip Ais employed in a bowling ball thereby enabling a lbowling ball to be provided with a grip with the weight of the bowling ball balanced to the individuals body characteristics with its weight also balanced and directed to the intended target.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,726,454 Belski Dec. 13, 1955 

